Core Exercise Equipment With Semi-Spherical Base

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an apparatus that has the specific feature of acting as an abdominal and lower back muscles workout device that is structured in the shape of a semi-sphere with a flat top seat and side handle bars that can be attached on each side to the flat top seat and rotated around to various positions or pulled outward or upward to any desired width or height as well as a single handle bar that has a head rest on one side and can be attached to the semi-sphere base. The semi-sphere base prevents the floor from being scratched.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/883,192 filed on Sep. 27, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a core exercise equipment and more particularly to a portable exercise equipment that has the specific features for working and strengthening abdominal and lower back muscles.

2. Description of Related Art

Exercise devices provide muscle building benefits in a variety of ways. Some exercise devices require repetitive body motion and use pulley or lever assemblies to simulate exercises done with free weights. Others use isometric principles, or utilize resilient devices such as springs or elastic cords.

To balance oneself on a device also adds to the exercise process. In addition a device can be created that will assist with certain exercises to facilitate the exercise itself.

Generally, these devices are designed to promote muscle building and are not designed to specifically strengthen the abdominal and lower back muscles or to be used as part of a universal program by both men and women.

Yet the current abdominal and lower back exercising device have their flaws and can be improved upon.

Such a muscle building mechanism is described herein along with its rather unique features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exercise ball assists in a natural rocking motion that assist in the user crunching the abdominal or flexing the lower back muscles. Furthermore, the user has to balance oneself on an exercise ball which adds to the exercise process giving the user those additional benefits of working small stabilizer muscles in additional to the main abdominal muscles. The core is truly strengthened when the small stabilizer muscles are also strengthened along with the main abdominal muscles. Strengthening small stabilizer muscles also decreases the chance of injury to the core muscles. But, a regular exercise ball does not support a user's head and there is no place for the hand to grip.

When doing the abdominal crunch exercise, the user crunches their abdominal muscles to lift their shoulder and back off the ground. This isn't easy to do. An abdominal rocker has a hand bar in the center for the user to grip and a headrest that supports the user's head. When using the abdominal rocker to do the abdominal crunch exercise, while the user crunches their stomach the user can push the hand bar forward with their arms to rock the abdominal rocker forward which moves the supported neck off the ground and in turn moves the upper body off the ground. This additional rocking motion generated by the arm to the upper body makes it easier and more comfortable to do an abdominal crunch then with no abdominal exercise device. It also prevents tweaked & stiff necks. However, even a regular abdominal rocker can be hard to use. The rocking motion brought forth by the arms may not be enough assist in the crunching of the abdominal muscle.

A regular abdominal rocker cannot be used to exercise the lower back. When using an exercise ball to do lower back exercises, the user has no place to grip to stabilize himself or herself better.

Therefore, there is a need for an all in one abdominal and lower back exercising device that use hand bars and/or headrest to support the upper body and assist in the crunching of the abdominal muscle or lower back muscle while having a semi-spherical base that allows for an even more natural rocking motion along with some instability to work the small stabilizer muscles.

The object of the disclosed invention is to provide a device to work out the abdominal muscles.

The object of the disclosed invention is to provide a device to work out the lower back.

The object of the disclosed invention is to provide a device for two exercises in one device with the device providing two unique features each specific to each exercise.

The object of the disclosed invention is to provide a device for doing core exercises with a easy to carry device that doesn't scratch the floor its placed on.

The object of the disclosed invention is to provide a device that won't roll away Unlike an exercise ball.

The object of the disclosed invention is to provide a device for continuously supporting the head and neck and provide the benefits of an exercise ball (stability) during abdominal and lower back muscles exercise.

The object of the disclosed invention is to provide side handle bars that can be attached/detached and rotated around to various positions or pulled outward or upward to any desired width or height.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed an exercise apparatus specifically geared to develop and firm the abdominal muscles in the shape of a semi-sphere ball for frontal (face down) or backside (face up) usage comprising:

a semi-sphere base made of elastic material that allows for the safe tilting of said device without creating harm to the flooring underneath;

a seat connected to and on top of the semi-sphere base, the seat having two half circular cutouts on lateral sides opposite to each other; and

a hand bar removably attached at its two terminal ends to the seat, the hand bar having a headrest attached thereto at its center;

whereby a user sits on the seat pad on top of the seat and semi-sphere base with his head resting on the headrest and his hands grasping the single hand bar doing the rocking motion to exercise his abdomen.

Moreover, the exercise apparatus further comprises a pair of side handles, each is configured to attach to the side wall of the seat around each of the half circular cutouts, wherein a person can lay stomach placed on top of the seat and grip the adjustable handle bars set at user adjust preferred position to do lower back exercises by extending the back. The side handle bars can be rotated around to various positions or pulled outward or upward to any desired width or height.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the core exercise equipment showing the top of the core exercise equipment with a single bar and headrest.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the core exercise equipment with the single bar and front view of the head rest.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a user on the core exercise equipment inclined back at 30 degrees with his head resting on the head rest and his arms on the single handle bar doing the ab exercise.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the handle bar and head rest aligned with the seat and semi-sphere base of the core exercise equipment and the screws required for attachment.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the core exercise equipment and a side view of the single handle bar ready to be attached.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the screws in a completed position holding the hand bar with the head rest in its proper position.

FIG. 7 is a close-up view showing that the single hand bar is attached to the seat by fastening means such as screws and brackets in this figure.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the core exercise equipment with the single hand bar and head rest attached to the seat on top of the semi-sphere base.

FIG. 9 is a view of the top of the semi-sphere base with engaging parts to attach to the bottom of the seat of the core exercise equipment.

FIG. 10 is a close up view showing the ring of the side handle attached to the seat of the core exercise equipment.

FIG. 11 is an isometric top view showing the core exercise equipment has both side handles attached to the seat of the core exercise equipment, each of the side handle includes a ring, and a disc with a bar.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view wherein the side handle bars that are attached on each side of the seat can be pulled outward to any desired width to the position of the user's liking.

FIG. 13A is a side view of the core exercise equipment with the user doing lower back exercises on it wherein the user's hands grips the side handle bars while lying on his/her stomach.

FIG. 13B is a side view of the core exercise equipment with the user doing lower back exercises on it wherein the user arches his/her lower back.

FIG. 14 is a close-up view showing the disc with the bar along its central line is inserted into the central hole of the ring of the side handle.

FIG. 15 is a close-up view showing the disc with the bar along its central line detached from the ring of the side handle.

FIG. 16 is a zoomed in view showing that the side handle bar can be rotated around inside the ring to various positions to any desired angle.

FIG. 17 is a zoomed in view showing that the side handle bar can be rotated around inside the ring to various positions to any desired angle wherein the side handle bar is positioned at a position different from that in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing that the disc with the bar can be detached from the ring and turned upside down with the bottom of the disc facing up and the bar facing down.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of an isometric view of an core exercise equipment 100 which has a single hand bar 1 with head rest 2 removably attached to the top of a substantially round seat 3.

The round seat 3 is further connected to the top of a semi-sphere base 4 as shown in FIG. 2 which is a front view of the core exercise equipment 100 of FIG. 1. The semi-sphere base 4 includes a top flat layer 22 made of a rigid material and a semi-sphere 23 made of an elastic material such as rubber or the like that allows for the safe tilting of said device without creating harm to the flooring underneath.

As shown in FIG. 2, the center portion of the hand bar 1 has a rubber wrapping 21 to ensure a firm grip that prevents the hands from sliding. The headrest 2 has a felt surface to cushion the head.

The core exercise equipment 100 may further comprise a soft pad 8 on top of the seat 3 to provide comfort to the user. The top of the seat 3 and bottom of the pad 8 have matching fastening means to engage each other. The fastening means includes but is not limited to fabric fasteners such as Velcro™ hook and loop. The thickness of the pad 8 may vary.

The hand bar 1 and headrest 2 may be built as a single unit and it is structured so as to attach and detach from the top of the seat 3 of the core exercise equipment 100. This single hand bar 1 and headrest 2 has the function of allowing the user of the core exercise equipment 100 to sit on the seat pad 8 and lean backwards in a half reclining position to make a rocking motion so as to exercise the abdominal muscles. Furthermore, the semi-sphere base 4 allows for a natural rocking motion and assists in the rocking motion to crunch the abdominal muscles. The seat 3 is connected to the top of semi-sphere base 4 by any suitable attachment means including but not limited to threaded fasteners and adhesive bonding.

Referring to FIG. 3 there is disclosed a side view of a user 200 using the core exercise equipment 100 of the present invention. The user sits on the seat pad 8 on top of the seat 3 and semi-sphere base 4 with his back inclined at 30 degrees and his head resting on the headrest 2 and his hands on the single hand bar 1 doing the rocking motion to exercise his abdomen.

The single hand bar 1 can be composed of plastic, metal (such as steel and/or aluminum), composite fibers or any other material that is slightly bendable and able to retain its bent shape without breaking due to constant handling.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the single hand bar 1 and headrest 2 aligned with the seat 3 and semi-sphere base 4 of the core exercise equipment and the screws required for attachment. The single hand bar 1 with the headrest 2 can be easily attached to and detached from the top of seat 3 by any suitable attachment means including but not limited to bolts and nuts, threaded fasteners (such as screws 7) and brackets 17, etc. When the single hand bar 1 with headrest 2 is attached to the seat 3, the user can do abdominal exercises. When the user wants to do other exercises which will be discussed later, he or she can detach the single hand bar 1 with headrest 2 from the seat 3. The attachment and detachment of the single hand bar 1 to/from the seat 3 are easy and quick.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view showing one side of the single hand bar 1 in a ready to attach position to the seat 3 of the core exercise equipment 100.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the screws 7 in a completed position holding the single hand bar 1 with the headrest 2 in its proper position.

FIG. 7 is a close-up view showing that the single hand bar 1 is attached to the seat 3 by fastening means such as screws 7 and brackets 17 in this figure.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the core exercise equipment 100 with the single hand bar 1 and headrest 2 attached to the seat 3 of the core exercise equipment 100.

FIG. 9 is a view of the top of the semi-sphere base 4 with engaging parts to attach to the bottom of the seat 3 of the core exercise equipment. The top layer 22 of the semi-sphere base 4 has the engaging part 9 to match with the comparable engaging part on the bottom of the seat 3 portion. The engaging parts include but are not limited to threaded fasteners and adhesive bonding.

The core exercise equipment 100 of the present invention further comprises other components when assembled can be used to do other exercise.

The core exercise equipment 100 further comprises a pair of adjustable side handles 10, each of which includes a ring 11 with a central hole 12, and a disc 13 with a bar 14 along its central line (or diameter).

Referring back to FIGS. 4 and 5, the seat 3 to which the handle bar 1 is attached is generally flat on top and about the size of a stool seat. On either side of the seat 3 is a half-circular shaped cutout 5 for receiving the ring 11.

Referring to FIG. 10 there is disclosed a close-up view showing the ring 11 is attached to the cutout 5 on the side wall 18 of the seat 3 of the core exercise equipment 100 of which the single handle bar 1 is detached from the seat 3. The disc 13 with the bar 14 along the center can be removably attached to the central opening 12 of the ring 11 as shown in FIG. 11.

Referring to FIG. 11 there is disclosed an isometric top view of the core exercise equipment 100 with both side handles 10 attached to the seat 3 of the core exercise equipment 100.

Referring to FIG. 12, the adjustable side handle 10 further includes two parallel poles 15 attached to the exterior side wall of the ring 11. The side wall 18 of the seat 3 around the semi-circular cutout further has two holes 16 (referring back to FIGS. 4-5). The side handle 10 is removably attached to the seat 3 by inserting the two poles 15 into the holes 16 of the seat. Moreover, the depth of the poles 15 entering the holes 16 is adjustable so as to allow the user to control the position of the side handle bar 14. The core exercise equipment 100 further has mechanism to lock the poles 15 into position so as to ensure that the poles 15 won't slide or fall out while exercising.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is disclosed a side view of the core exercise equipment 100 with the user 200 doing lower back exercises on it. In FIG. 13A, the user's hands grips the side handle bars 14 while lying on his/her stomach. In FIG. 13B, the user arches his/her lower back. The grip to the side handle bars 14 provides stability to the user on top of the semi-sphere base 4 compared to doing lower back exercise on an exercise ball. While the semi-sphere base's rocking motion assists the user in arching their back, the user has to cope with the inherent instability of the semi-sphere base 4 which further works the stabilizer muscles in the abdominal region. The side handle bar 14 that is removably attached to each side of the seat 3 can be rotated around to various positions or pulled outward or upward to any desired width or height for an adjustable position that's more ergonomic and comfortable for users of different body type.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are close-up views of the side handle 10. FIG. 14 shows the disc 13 with the bar 14 attached to the ring 11 and FIG. 15 shows the disc 13 with the bar 14 detached from the ring 11.

The disc 13 having a size matched with the central hole 12 of the ring 11 has threads 19 to engage the threads 20 on the interior side wall of the ring 11 so that it can be inserted into the ring 11 and the height and direction of the side handle bar 14 can be adjusted by rotating the disc 13 relative to the ring 11.

FIG. 16 is a zoomed in view showing that the disc 13 with the bar 14 attached to the ring 11 can be rotated around to various positions to any desired direction. FIG. 17 is also a zoomed in view showing that the side handle bar can be rotated around inside the ring to various positions to any desired direction wherein the side handle bar is rotated at a different direction from that in FIG. 16.

The disc 13 with the bar 14 can be detached from the ring 11 and turned upside down with the bottom of the disc 13 facing up and the bar 14 facing down as shown in FIG. 18 and then reinserted back into the ring 11.

It is also noted here that such a core exercise equipment 100 can be used in a physical fitness center or in the privacy of a home and stored within a closet.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the apparatus illustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise apparatus specifically geared to develop and firm abdominal and lower back muscles in the shape of a semi-sphere ball for frontal (face down) or backside (face up) usage comprising: a semi-sphere base, the semi-sphere base includes a top flat layer made of rigid material and a semi-sphere ball made of elastic material that allows for the safe tilting of said device without creating harm to the flooring underneath; a seat connected to and on top of the semi-sphere base, the seat having two half circular cutouts on two locations opposite to each other; a seat pad attached to a top of the seat; and a hand bar removably attached at its two terminal ends to the seat, the hand bar having a headrest attached thereto at its center; whereby a user sits on the seat pad on top of the seat and semi-sphere base with his head resting on the headrest and his hands grasping the single hand bar doing the rocking motion to exercise his abdomen.
 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the single hand bar is removably attached to the seat using an attachment means selected from the group consisting of threaded fastener and riveting.
 3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand bar may be a single unit or made of two equivalent bars and arranged in parallel.
 4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand bar can be composed of materials selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, and composite fibers.
 5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand bar has a rubber wrapping at its center portion to ensure a firm grip and prevent the hands from sliding and the head-rest has a felt surface to cushion any pressure to the head.
 6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of adjustable side handles, each is configured to attach to a side wall of the seat around each of the half circular cutouts, wherein a person can lay stomach placed on top of the seat pad and grip the adjustable side handles set at user's preferred position to do lower back exercises.
 7. The exercise apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the adjustable side handles includes a ring with a central hole and a disc with a bar along its central line, the ring having threads on its interior side wall, the disc having threads on its side wall to match with the threads of the ring, the disc with the bar can removably insert into the central hole of the ring and engage the ring via threads.
 8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the seat has two holes on the side wall around each of the half circular cutout and each of the pair of adjustable side handles further includes two poles, the side handle is attached to the seat by inserting the two poles into the two holes and secured by a locking mechanism and a distance between the two side handles is adjustable.
 9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the side handle bars can be rotated around to various positions or pulled outward or upward to any desired width or height.
 10. The exercise apparatus of claim 9, wherein a position of the disc with the bar relative to the ring can be adjusted by rotating the disc relative to the ring via threads and secured by a suitable locking mechanism. 